SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference office has announced the seeding for the 2016 SoCon Women’s Basketball Championship presented by General Shale, which will begin Thursday, March 3, at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C.

Mercer earned the top seed over Chattanooga per the league’s tiebreaking procedure. The Bears will face No. 8 seed UNCG in game one on Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

ETSU and Furman are slotted in at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, and will face off in Thursday’s second game at 1:45 p.m. The two teams split contests during the regular season.

UTC, the three-time defending tournament champion, is the No. 2 seed and will battle No. 7 Western Carolina in game three of the first round at 4 p.m. The Mocs enter the tournament riding an eight-game winning streak.

No. 3 seed Samford and No. 6 seed Wofford are set to square off in the last first round game at 6:15 p.m.

The Terriers claimed the sixth seed over the Catamounts in a tiebreaker.

Semifinal action will take place on Friday, and the women’s championship game will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m.

All women’s games will be held at the U.S. Cellular Center and are set to be broadcast on ESPN3. For more information, visit SoConSports.com.

2016 Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Championship presented by General Shale

U.S. Cellular Center ● Asheville, N.C.

Thursday, March 3

Game 1 – No. 1 Mercer vs. No. 8 UNCG, 11:30 a.m.

Game 2 – No. 4 ETSU vs. No. 5 Furman, 1:45 p.m.

Game 3 – No. 2 Chattanooga vs. No. 7 Western Carolina, 4 p.m.

Game 4 – No. 3 Samford vs. No. 6 Wofford, 6:15 p.m.

Friday, March 4

Game 5 – Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 11 a.m.

Game 6 – Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 1:15 p.m.

Sunday, March 6

Championship Game

Game 7 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 1 p.m.

NOTE: All times Eastern. All games to be broadcast on ESPN3.

-www.SoConSports.com-